Rugby World Cup

Contested once every four years since 1987, the RWC involves the world’s top 20 national teams battling for the famed Webb Ellis Cup. New Zealand are the current holders, while England (2015) and Japan (2019) have been awarded hosting rights for the next two tournaments.

Ireland will bid to host the 2023 rugby World Cup, the Irish and Northern Irish governments said Friday, formally launching a politically symbolic proposal to win the right to hold the event on their own for the first time.

Former France prop Laurent Benezech continued to make controversial claims about doping in rugby by telling the French Senate that he believes he was given illegal substances during the 1995 World Cup.

Hong Kong's attempt to grab the psychological advantage before next year's Asian qualifiers for the 2015 World Cup was foiled by South Korea yesterday as the home team raced to a 43-22 victory in Ansan.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen believes England, as well as his own reigning champions, could win the 2015 World Cup after seeing Stuart Lancaster's men inflict a record-breaking 38-21 defeat on the All Blacks.

Hong Kong will take on two of the best tier-three nations in the world, Belgium and Zimbabwe, in the Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations next month in Dubai in what is really a test of their ability to win a repechage match and qualify for the 2015 World Cup (15-a-side).

Hong Kong will continue to play an important role in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, says HKRFU chairman Trevor Gregory - despite the re-election of Bernard Lapasset as IRB chairman for a second four-year term.

Paul Croucher had stepped out of his bus for a breath of fresh air when the earth began to buckle. The next thing he knew, he was being pulled up from the gutter. Small faces creased with fear filled his vision.

It is a long way off, but Hong Kong can take a significant step towards realising their goal of one day playing in the World Cup by finishing second in the ARFU Asian Five Nations Top Five competition today.